52 Ancestors - Week 447: #717 Rebecca (Gifford) Soule (1689-b1747) of Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Rebeckah Gifford (1689-1747)  is #717 on my Ahnentafel List, my 7th great-grandmother, who married #716 Jacob Soule (1689-1748) in 1710, in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

I am descended through:

*  her son, #356 Benjamin Soule (1719-1803), who married #357 Meribah Waite (1720-1803) in 1742.

*  their daughter #179 Martha Soule (1743-1828) who married #178 David Kirby (1740-1832)  in 1763. 

*  their daughter, #89 Sibel Kirby (1764-1848) who married #88 Humphrey White (1757-1814)  in 1786.

*  their son, #44 Jonathan White (1803-1850) who married Miranda Wade (1804-1850) in 1824.

*  their son #22 Henry Arnold White (1824-1885) who married Amy Oatley (1826-1864) in 1844.

*  their daughter #11 Julia E. White (1848-1913) who married #10 Thomas Richmond (1848-1917) in 1868.

*  their daughter #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) who married #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942) in 1900.

*  their son #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.

*  their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)

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1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Name:                        Rebeckah Gifford[1–4]

*  Sex:                            Female

*  Father:                       Robert Gifford 1657-1730

*  Mother:                     Sarah Wing 1658-1720

2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Birth:                        1689 Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States[2]

*  Death:                      before 12 August 1747 (before about age 58), not named in husband's will; Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States[5]

 

3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Spouse 1:                     Jacob Soule (1687-1748)

*  Marriage 1:                  22 January 1709/10 (about age 20), Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States[1–3]

*  Child 1:                       Joseph Soule 1711-1793

*  Child 2:                       Elizabeth Soule 1712-1781

*  Child 3:                       Oliver Soule 1714-1715

*  Child 4:                       Rebecca Soule 1715-1747

*  Child 5:                       Nathaniel Soule 1718-1769

*  Child 6:                       Benjamin Soule 1719-1803

*  Child 7:                       Rosamond Soule 1723-1801

*  Child 8:                       Stephen Soule 1727-1789

4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):    

Rebeckah Gifford was the daughter of Robert and Sarah (Wing) Gifford, born in about 1689 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts Bay[1-2].

She married Jacob Soule of Dartmouth on 22 January 1709/10 in Dartmouth[1-4].  Jacob was the son of Nathaniel and Rose (Thorn?) Soule.  They had eight children, all born and recorded in Dartmouth town records:

*  Joseph Soule (1711-1793), married (1) 1736 Mary Davis (1710-1750); (2) 1758 Dinah Tripp (1716-????).

*  Elizabeth Soule (1712-1781), married 1735 Caleb Tripp (1714-1781).

*  Oliver Soule (1714-1715).

*  Rebecca Soule (1715-1747), married 1735 Reuben Waite (1713-1754).

*  Nathaniel Soule (1718-1769), married 1741 Jane Potter (1717-1807).

*  Benjamin Soule (1719-1803), married 1742 Meribah Wait (1720-1803).

*  Rosamond Soule (1723-b1801), married 1744 Nathaniel Potter (1719-1801).

*  Stephen Soule (1727-1789), married 1746 Sarah Potter (1724-a1789).

Rebeckah and her sisters were not mentioned in their father's will, written in 1724 and proved in 1730.

There is no record of Rebeckah's death.  She is not mentioned in her husband's, Jacob Soule's will, written on 12 August 1747[5]. There is no burial record for her on Find A Grave.  A gravestone photograph purporting to be that of Rebeckah (Gifford Soule is posted on some of her profiles in Ancestry Member Trees, but it is for another Rebeckah Soule of Duxbury.

5.  SOURCES

1. Anne Borden Harding (editor), Mayflower Families Through Five Generations : Volume 3: George Soule  (Plymouth, MA : General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1980), page 22, Jacob Soule family sketch.

2. Almon E. Daniels and MacLean W. McLean, "William Gifford of Sandwich, Mass., d. 1687," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 128, pages 241-260 (October 1974), Volume 129, pages 221-237 (July 1975), Volume 129, pages 221-223, Robert Gifford Family Sketch.

3. "Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988," indexed database and digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), "Dartmouth Births, Marriages and Deaths," no page number (image 303 of 2331), Rebeckah Gifford and Jacob Soule marriage entry.

4. Vital records of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 ( Boston, Mass. : New England Historic Genealogical Society,1929-1930), Marriages, page 205, Rebeckah Gifford and Jacob Soule entry, 22 January 1709/10.

5. Bristol County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Probate Packet 24220 for Jacob Sowle of Dartmouth 1748 (8 images); "Bristol County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, 1636-1899," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017, American Ancestors (https://www.americanancestors.org); original records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives, digitized images provided by FamilySearch.

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NOTE:  Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post 

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I have extended this theme in 2022 to 468 Ancestors in 468 Weeks.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2022/09/52-ancestors-week-447-717-rebecca.html

Copyright (c) 2022, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

52 Ancestors - Week 446: #716 Jacob Soule (1687-1748) of Dartmouth, Massachusetts

 Jacob Soule (1689-1748)  is #716 on my Ahnentafel List, my 7th great-grandfather, who married #717 Rebeckah Gifford (1689-1747) in 1710, in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

I am descended through:

*  his son, #356 Benjamin Soule (1719-1803), who married #357 Meribah Waite (1720-1803) in 1742.

*  their daughter #179 Martha Soule (1743-1828) who married #178 David Kirby (1740-1832)  in 1763. 

*  their daughter, #89 Sibel Kirby (1764-1848) who married #88 Humphrey White (1757-1814)  in 1786.

*  their son, #44 Jonathan White (1803-1850) who married Miranda Wade (1804-1850) in 1824.

*  their son #22 Henry Arnold White (1824-1885) who married Amy Oatley (1826-1864) in 1844.

*  their daughter #11 Julia E. White (1848-1913) who married #10 Thomas Richmond (1848-1917) in 1868.

*  their daughter #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) who married #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942) in 1900.

*  their son #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.

*  their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)

=====================================================

1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Name:                           Jacob Soule[1–3]

*  Alternate Name:            Jacob Sowle[4]

*  Sex:                               Male

*  Father:                           Nathaniel Soule (1637-1699)

*  Mother:                         Rose Thorn (1645-1708)

2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Birth:                             about 1687,  Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States[1]

*  Death:                           before 3 May 1748 (before about age 61), Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States[4]

*  Probate:                        3 May 1748 (about age 61), will proved; Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States[4]

  

3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Spouse 1:                     Rebecca Gifford (1689-1747)

*  Marriage 1:                  22 January 1709/10 (about age 22), Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States[1–3]

*  Child 1:                       Joseph Soule 1711-1793

*  Child 2:                       Elizabeth Soule 1712-1781

*  Child 3:                       Oliver Soule 1714-1715

*  Child 4:                       Rebecca Soule 1715-1747

*  Child 5:                       Nathaniel Soule 1718-1769

*  Child 6:                       Benjamin Soule 1719-1803

*  Child 7:                       Rosamond Soule 1723-1801

*  Child 8:                       Stephen Soule 1727-1789

4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):    

Jacob Soule was born in about 1687 to Nathaniel and Rose (Thorn?) Soule of Dartmouth, Massachusetts[1].

He married Rebeckah Gifford (1689-1747) on 22 January 1709/10, the daughter of Robert and Sarah (Wing) Gifford of Sandwich and Dartmouth, Massachusetts[1-3].  They had 8 children, all born in Dartmouth, and recorded in the town records of Dartmouth:

*  Joseph Soule (1711-1793), married (1) 1736 Mary Davis (1710-1750); (2) 1758 Dinah Tripp (1716-????).

*  Elizabeth Soule (1712-1781), married 1735 Caleb Tripp (1714-1781).

*  Oliver Soule (1714-1715).

*  Rebecca Soule (1715-1747), married 1735 Reuben Waite (1713-1754).

*  Nathaniel Soule (1718-1769), married 1741 Jane Potter (1717-1807).

*  Benjamin Soule (1719-1803), married 1742 Meribah Wait (1720-1803).

*  Rosamond Soule (1723-b1801), married 1744 Nathaniel Potter (1719-1801).

*  Stephen Soule (1727-1789), married 1746 Sarah Potter (1724-a1789).

The lands of Nathaniel Soule and descendants were on the east side of Main Road in present day Westport (which was set off from Dartmouth in 1787) and ran down to the east branch of the Accaxet or Westport River[1].

The summary of Jacob Sowle's will, written on 12 August 1747 in Dartmouth, and proved on 3 May 1748 in Bristol County Probate Court[1,4], is:

He named sons Stephen, Joseph, Nathaniel and Benjamin, and daughters Elizabeth Tripp and Rosamond Potter, and grandchildren Phebe and Jeremiah Wait. He gave son Stephen the west end of his homestead farm, son Joseph land on the south side of the farm and all buildings, son Nathaniel the middle most lot that butts on the river, etc. and son Benjamin land on the north side of that given to Nathaniel, being all the remaining part.  To the daughters he gave the indoor moveables.  Son Joseph was named executor, and the witnesses were Silvanus Soule, James Soule and Mary Soule.

There is no death or burial record available for Jacob Soule, who died before 3 May 1748 when his will was proved[1,4].  He may have been buried on the family land in Dartmouth.

5.  SOURCES

1. Anne Borden Harding (editor), Mayflower Families Through Five Generations : Volume 3: George Soule  (Plymouth, MA : General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1980), page 22, Jacob Soule family sketch.

2. "Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988," indexed database and digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), "Dartmouth Births, Marriages and Deaths," no page number (image 303 of 2331), Rebecca Gifford and Jacob Soule marriage entry.

3. Vital records of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 ( Boston, Mass. : New England Historic Genealogical Society,1929-1930), Marriages, page 205, Rebeckah Gifford and Jacob Soule entry, 22 January 1709/10.

4. Bristol County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Probate Packet 24220 for Jacob Sowle of Dartmouth 1748 (8 images); "Bristol County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, 1636-1899," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017, American Ancestors (https://www.americanancestors.org); original records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives, digitized images provided by FamilySearch.

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NOTE:  Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post 

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I have extended this theme in 2022 to 468 Ancestors in 468 Weeks.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2022/09/52-ancestors-week-446-716-jacob-soule.html

Copyright (c) 2022, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Treasure Chest Thursday -- 1709/10 Marriage Record for Jacob Soule and Rebeckah Gifford in Dartmouth, Massachusetts

 It's time to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings for Treasure Chest Thursday.

The treasure today is the 1709/10 marriage record of Rebecka Gifford and Jacob Soule in Dartmouth, Massachusetts:

The marriage record for Rebeckah Gifford and Jacob Soule is on the right-hand page, the third entry in the Gifford section:

The transcription of this marriage record for Rebecka Gifford and Jacob Soule is:

"Rebeckah [Gifford] and Jacob Soule -- Jany 22 1709"

The source citation for this record is:

"Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988," indexed database and digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), "Dartmouth Births, Marriages and Deaths," no page number (image 303 of 2331), Rebecca Gifford and Jacob Soule marriage entry, 22 January 1709.

This record is a Derivative Source, with Primary Information and Direct Evidence of the marriage of Rebecka Gifford and Jacob Soule.  The Original source is probably a Dartmouth town record book that is not now extant and was copied into this town record book.

Jacob Soule (1687-1748) was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, the son of  Nathaniel and Rose (Thorn?) Soule.  He married Rebeckah Gifford (1689-1747), the daughter of Robert and Sarah (Wing) Gifford, on 22 January 1709/10 in Dartmouth.  They had 8 children.

Jacob and Rebeckah (Gifford) Soule are my 7th great-grandparents.  I am descended through their son Benjamin Soule (1719-1803) of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, who married Meribah Waite (1720-1803) in about 1742 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2022/09/treasure-chest-thursday-170910-marriage.html

Copyright (c) 2022, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Amanuensis Monday -- 1700 Bond and Letter of Administration of the Estate of Nathaniel Sowle (1637-1699) of Dartmouth, Massachusetts

 This week's document for transcription is the 1700 Bond  and Letter of Administration for the estate of Nathnaiel Sowle (1637-1699) of Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, which is in the Bristol County Probate Court records. 

[image 8 of 8]

The transcription of this bond and letter of administration is:

[image 8 of 8]

Know all men by these presents that we Rose

Soul of Dartmouth in the County of Bristoll in the Province

of the Masachusett Bay in New England widow & Relict of

Nathaniel Soul late of said Dartmouth Deceased and

Joseph Allen & Nathaniel soul Both of said Dartmouth

Do stand Bounden unto John Saffin Esq'r Judge of Probate of

wills &c within the County of Bristoll in the full sum

of three hundred & Sixty pounds Current Silver money

in New England aforesaid To be payd to him the said John Saffin

or Successor in said office To which Payment well & truly

to be made soe bind our selves & Either of us by him

self Joyntly & severally for & in the whole our & Either

& Every of our heires Executors & Adm'rs firmly by these

presents Dated in Bristoll this twelveth day of october

Ano Domini 1699 & in the Eleventh year of his Majestyes

Reigne.

The Condition of this present obligation is such that whereas

Administration is Granted unto the above bounden Rose Soul

Upon the Estate of Nathaniel Soul late of said Dartmouth dec'd

Intestate.  If therefore the said Rose Soul Administratrix

Shall Bring into the Regist'rs office for the County abovesd a true

& perfect Inventory of all & singular y'e goods, Chattels Credits & Estate

legt by the said Dec'd at or before the Tenth day of Novemb'r next

& shall well & truly Administ'r upon & Dispose of all & singular

the goods Chattels Credits & Estate of the said dec'd to all & Singular

the person & persons to whom of Right it doth pertain according

law and shall Render a true & plain accompt of her Administration

Upon Oath at or before the tenth day of November one thousand

Seven hundred without fraud or further Delay then this obliga-

tion to be both Null & Voyd or Els to stand abide & be in full power force

& vertue in the law whatsoever.

Signed seled & Delivered                                 the O mark    {seal}

in y'e presence of                                             of Rose Soul

Joseph  anterman

       the mark of                                               Joseph Allen   {seal}

Willliam X Makepeace                                 nathaniell Soule  {seal}

The source citation for this probate case file is:

Bristol County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Volume: Bristol 22000-23999 - Estate File #23724 (8 images), Nathaniel Sowle estate, 1700; "Bristol County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, 1636-1899," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017, American Ancestors  (https://www.americanancestors.org: accessed 27 December 2020); Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org from original records at Probate Registry, Taunton, Mass. 

Nathaniel Soule/Soul/Sole/Sowle  (1637-1699) was the son of George and Mary (Bucket?) Soule of Plymouth, Massachusetts.  He married Rose Thorn (1645-1708) in 1681, probably in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.  They had six children, all born in Dartmouth:

*  Nathaniel Soule (1682-1766)

*  Sylvanus Soule (1683-1754)

*  Mary Soule (1684-1783)

*  Susannah Soule (1686-1733)

*  Jacob Soule (1687-1748)

*  Myles Soule (1690-after 1720).

Nathaniel Soule died intestate before 12 October 1699, leaving his widow with six minor children (age 17 down to age 9).  Administration was granted to his widow, Rose (Thorn) Soule by the Bristol County Probate Court.  She posted bond of 360 pounds as administratrix of the estate on 12 October 1699 with two others.  An inventory reported on that day appraised the personal property at 197 pounds, 16 shillings, including 120 pounds for houses and lands. An account was made on 10 October 1700, and debts and charges in the amount of 23 pounds, 8 shillings and 8 pence included debts owed to Thomas Wait, Joseph Allen Jr, Jonathan Davil, Nathaniel Potter Jr, and Hugh Mousher, and rates paid to Constable Gifford.  The remaining estate for distribution totaled 174 pounds, 7 shillings, 4 pence.  

That is all of the information in the Bristol County Probate Court for case 23724 of Nathaniel Sowle.  However, there are additional probate and real estate papers for this estate found in the Bristol County Probate Court clerk volumes  that were not put into the estate case file above.

Nathnaiel and Rose (Thorn) Soule are my 8th great-grandparents, through their son Jacob Soule (1687-1748) who married Rebecca Gifford (1689-1747) in 1710 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

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NOTE: Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme years ago called "Amanuensis Monday." John offers this definition for "amanuensis:"

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2020/12/amanuensis-monday-1700-bond-and-letter.html

Copyright (c) 2020, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Finding the FamilySearch Family Tree Watchlist and a Surprise or Two!

 I used to receive weekly emails from FamilySearch telling me which of the 400 profiles I signed up to "watch" had been changed.  That changed recently, and they stopped sending emails, but said I could see my Watchlist on the FamilySearch Family Tree page under "Following."  On the "Following" page below, there is a note saying:

"The style and content of your watch list has changed.  It is now called Following.  for more information, click Learn More."

By clicking on the name of the person, I can see the profile for that person, check the sources and notes, and make any additions or corrections that are supported by records and authoritative sources. 

The "William Cutter" profile was given another father named "Richard Cutler" so I merged that profile with the "Richard Cutter" profile that is really for William's father - I think that problem was a misreading or not recognizing the name "Cutter" and thinking it was "Cutler."

The "Robert Seaver 1608-1683" profile was more concerning, since it said he had a father named "Robert Seaver 1590-????"" who married an "Elizabeth Ballard 1592-????" and had a daughter named "Elizabeth Ballard 1611-????" who married "Robert Seaver 1608-1683."  Yes, a daughter Ballard born to a Seaver man who married another Seaver man.  A convolution of people - there is no record of the birth or parents of Robert Seaver 1608-1683, nor of Elizabeth Ballard 1611-1657, my 9th great-grandparents.  So I fixed it, and removed the relationship of the daughter Elizabeth Ballard to father Robert Seaver and mother Elizabeth Ballard, and then removed the relationship of Robert Seaver 1590 and Elizabeth Ballard 1592.  I can't delete those profiles because I did not create them.  I can merge them into correct profiles and may do that in the future. 

Here's the next screen down the Watch list:

George Soule!  The Mayflower passenger, and my 9th great-grandfather.  This profile was shepherded for many years by Guy Lemoyne Black as he tried to keep spurious parents and events from being added to the profile for George Soule.  He stopped doing that several months ago for some reason, and the spurious information continued to be added.  I had a pleasant surprise today - look at the George Soule profile:

At the top of the profile, in the beige area, there is a Note saying:

"Read Only.  This Mayflower passenger profile is temporarily set to read-only.  Sorry for any inconvenience.  Learn more."

I scrolled down the profile to see how bad the recent changes were, and saw that George Soule now had a set of parents - Jan Soule and Mayken or Mary Labis. 

 I had heard that the Soule Kindred research and Mayflower History research had uncovered probable parents for George Soule, but had not seen the scholarship that supported it.  I looked at the profile for Jan Soule and it had only one source - an Ancestry Member Tree image of a published article:

At the bottom of the image above is "Soule Kindred Newsletter, Fall 2011 ..." so I went to the Soule Kindred website and noted that all of their newsletters (53 years worth) are FREE to read.  I quickly found the Fall 2011 issue, and saved it as a PDF file to read it carefully.

There is more information about the origins of George Soule in earlier and later issues. I need to access those and read them and try to understand the records and the research process.  However, this is the first article I've seen that presents actual records and discussion that are more than "look, here's a George Soule with parents in England in about the right time frame."

The FamilySearch Family Tree profile for George Soule now includes his birth family.  

Why was the George Soule profile made Read-Only?  Was it because of the incessant spurious parents and events that were added over time?  Or was it because information about his parents are being evaluated for accuracy by FamilySearch?  Or is it because FamilySearch is protecting the profiles of famous or notable persons?  

The answer is that FamilySearch is protecting the profiles of Mayflower Passengers during the Mayflower 400th anniversary year.  The Learn More screen linked on the third image above is:

I think this is a great move towards curation of profiles based on authoritative resources like the Mayflower Families book series.

Frankly, I hope that FamilySearch protects the profiles - makes them read-only - of many notable and famous people - not only the Mayflower passengers, but political figures, royal families, entertainers, heroes, and explorers too - based on authoritative research.  

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2020/09/finding-familysearch-family-tree.html

Copyright (c) 2020, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Amanuensis Monday - Post #438: 1747 Will of Jacob Soule of Dartmouth, Massachusetts

This week's document for Amanuensis Monday is the 1747 will of Jacob Soule of Dartmouth from the Bristol County, Massachusetts Probate packet (8 images):

[image 6 of 8]

[image 7 of 8]

[image 8 of 8]

The transcription of the will is:

[image 6 of 8]

August the twelveth Day one thousand seven hundred and forty seven

I Jacob Soule of Dartmouth in the County of Bristoll in the provance

of the masathusetts Bay in new England yeoman being weekly in body

but of A parfict sound mind and memory thanks be given to god thare

fore coling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is Apointed

for all men once to dye Due make and ordain this and no other to be my last

will and testement that is to say principaly and first of all I will &

Recomend my soule in to the hands of god that gave it and my Body I

Recommend to the Earth to be Buried in a Decent burial at the

Descreation of my Executor here After named and as touching

such worldly Estate whare with it hath pleased god to bless me in

this life I Give Demise and Dispose of in the foloing manner and

form. Imprimis I give and bequeath to my ^son^ Stephen ????? sartin tract

or parcel of land seteuate lying and being in Dartmouth Afore sd and is the

west End of my home stead farm where I now Dwell Beginning at A

stone at macombers wall which stone is the southwest corner of

my sd farm for the first mentioned bound and from thence East

17d South 122 Rods by Ichabod Eddeys Line to a stake with stones About it

and from thence north 10d West Acrost my farm to A stake and stones

About it and then from the first mentioned stone at macombers

wall north 31d west 68 Rods to my northwest corner bound &

from thence East ??d north by Allens Land untell it meets with the

Line that croses my farm allso I give him all my salt medow lying

at bus?h flat so called which land and medow I give to my sd son

Stephen Soule to him his heirs and Assigns for Ever and I give

him all my waring Aperil with my best bead and beadstead 2 blankets1

sheets my best coverled and the next to my begest pot & my grate

Cittel and my loome & tacklin.

Itiam I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Soule A sartin

tract or parcel of Land seteuate Lying and being in Dartmouth A

fore sd and is the south side of my sd farm with all my buildings and

orchard standing thare on bounded as foloweth beginning for

the first mentioned bound ??? the head ^lot^of robert tows Land

and from thence north 59 Rods =======================

=========== for the breath of the first lot and from the End of ye

fifty nine Rods west 7d nothard untell it comes up to the head lot

then to com back to the End of the sd fifty nine Rods and then

East 7d south to the River for the first Lot with all my salt

medow lying at ?????? nest of land Joyning to sd Island with

one half of ye Island and all the scirts of sedg at the foot of the land

that I have herein given to him all which Land and medow I give

and bequeath to my sd son Joseph Soule his heirs and Assigns

for Ever.

Itiam I give to my son nathaniell Soule tract or parcel of land

seteuate Lying and being in Dartmouth Above sd and is the middle ??

Lot of my sd farm that buts on the River beginning for the first

mentioned bounds At the End of the Above sd 59 Rods and

from thence 59 Rods north for the bredth of sd Lot thence ???

south up to the head Lot there from sd fifty nine Rods and East

2d nothardly to the River with the ??? ????? there or

?????  [over]

[image 7 of 8]

And allso one half part of A sartin piece of salt medow Lying

and being at a place Called the Elders that is to say the west

half of sd medow togather with all the scirts of medow

that Lieth at the End of his Lot herein given to him all which

Land and medow I give to him his heirs and Assgns for Ever.

Itiam I give and bequeath to my son Beniamin Soule

all my Land that Lyeth on the north side of the Land that

I have here in given to my son nathaniell Soule it being all ye

^Remainder^ Remaining part of my sd homestead farm that is not herein

Disposed of bounded southardly on the piece of Land here

in given to my son nathaniell Soule Easterly on the

River nothardly by Allens Land westerly by the head lot

herein given to my son Stephen Soule togather with the

East half part of my meddows at the Elders Afore sd

with the scirts of sedg Lying at the lower End of the land

that I herein give ^???^ to him which Land and medow I give

and bequeath to my son Beniaman Soule his heirs & Assigns

for Ever and further my mind and will is that my sd son

Stephen Soule shall have A drift way from the Land that I

have hearin given to him Easterly down to the River

Down thrue my son Joseph Land whare it is most convene^nt

and least Damage for his heirs and Assigns for Ever.

Itiam I give to my two Daughters Elizabeth trip and

Rosamond potter all my indoruers movables Except what

is herein otherways disposed of to be Devided between

them Elizabeth to have one third part thare of and

Rosemond two thirds which I give them with what I

have all Reddey given to them.

I give to my two grand Children phebe wait & Jeremiah

wait four pounds old tenor phebe to have thre pounds and

Jeremiah to have one pound to be paid unto them with

In twelve months After my Decease by my Executor here

After named. My mind and will is that all my Just debts

and Legeces here in mentioned shall be paid out of my out-

douers movables and when my Debts and Legeces is paid

the Remainder part of my moveable Estate shall be Equaly

Devided Amongs my four sons Joseph Soul nathaniell Soule

Beniamin Soul and Stephen Soule part and part Alike

and I Apoint make and ordain my son Joseph Soule to be

the sole Executor of this my Last will and testement

And I due here by utterly Disalow Revoke and

Disannul all and Every other wills and bequeaths by

me in any ways before written and bequeathed.

[image 8 of 8]

Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be

my Last will and testeme in wittnes whereof I have

hear unto set my hand and seal the day and year

Above mentioned.

Signed sealed published pronounced

and Declared by the sd Jacob Soule

as his last will and testement

in the presents of us                        his

Silvanus soule                       Jacob X Soule

James Sowle                                 mark

Mary Sowl

Bristol Ss Freetown May y^e 3^d 1748

Then Before the Hono^ble George Leonard Esq Juide of

Probate &c for the County of Bristol etc. came

Silvanus soule and James Soule two of the Wittnesses

of the Last Will and Testament of Jacob Soule Late

of Dartmouth Deceased and made Oath that they Were

Present and did see and hear the said Deceased Signe

Seale Publish and Declare the Within Written

Instrument to be his Last Will and Testament &

that he was of A sound Disposing mind When he so did

and that they saw Mary Soule signe as a Wittness

with them att the same time and that they

all Signed in the Presence of the Testator.

                                               George Leonard

Stephen Paine Register

               Bristol Ss May y^e 5^th 1748

               Entered In the Eleventh Book of Wills

               follo 451 452

                                Stephen Paine Register

The source citation for this will is:

Bristol County, Massachusetts, Probate case files, Probate Packet 24220 for Jacob Sowle of Dartmouth 1748 (8 images); "Bristol County (Massachusetts) Probate Records, 1636-1899," digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors  (https://www.americanancestors.org: accessed 5 July 2018); original records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives, digitized images provided by FamilySearch.

Jacob Soule (1687-1748) of Dartmouth, Massachusetts married Rebecca Gifford (1689-before 1747) in 1710 in Dartmouth, and they had eight children.  Rebecca (Gifford) Soule and two of the children died before Jacob wrote his will on 12 August 1747.  He named six living children in his will, Joseph Soule, Nathaniel Soule, Benjamin Soule, Stephen Soule, Elizabeth Trip and Rosamond Potter, plus two children of his deceased daughter, Rebecca (Soule) Wait.

Jacob and Rebecca (Gifford) Soule are my 7th great-grandparents.  I am descended from their son Benjamin Soule (1719-1803) who married Meribah Waite (1720-1803) in about 1742, and resided in Dartmouth and Westport, Massachusetts.

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NOTE:  Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent  TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme years ago called "Amanuensis Monday."  John offers this definition for "amanuensis:" 

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2018/07/amanuensis-monday-post-438-1747-will-of.html

Copyright (c) 2018, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

52 Ancestors - Week 234: #359 Meribah (Wait) Soule (1720-1803) of Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Meribah Wait (1720-1803) is #359 on my Ahnentafel List, my 6th great-grandmother, who married #358 Benjamin Soule (1719-1803)   in 1742 in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts.

I am descended through:

*  their daughter #179 Martha Soule (1743-1828) who married  #178 David Kirby (1740-1832) in 1763.

*   their daughter, #89 Sibel Kirby (1764-1848)who married #88 Humphrey White (1757-1814) in 1786.

*  their son, #44 Jonathan White (1803-1850) who married #45 Miranda Wade (1804-1850) in 1824.

*  their son #22 Henry Arnold White (1824-1885) who married #23 Amy Oatley (1826-1864) in 1844.

*  their daughter #11 Julia E. White (1848-1913) who married #10 Thomas Richmond (1848-1917) in 1868.

*  their daughter #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) who married #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942) in 1900.

*  their son #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.

*  their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)

=====================================================

1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Name:                      Meribah Wait[1]    

*  Alternate Name:      Maribe Wait[2–3]

*  Alternate Name:     Meribee Waite[4]    

*  Alternate Name:     Meribah Sowle[5]  

*  Sex:                          Female    

*  Father:                     Thomas Waite (1683-1743)    

*  Mother:                   Mary Tripp (1689-1754)  

2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Birth:                      20 July 1720, Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States[2–4]    

*  Death:                     3 February 1803 (age 82), Westport, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States[5]  

3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Spouse 1:             Benjamin Soule (1719-1803)    

*  Marriage:             about 1742 (about age 23), probably Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States[1,6]   

*  Child 1:              Martha Soule (1743-1828)    

*  Child 2:              Patience Soule (1745-1780)  

4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):    

 The biography and family data for several generations of the descendants of Thomas Waite of Portsmouth, Rhode Island was discussed in the article "Thomas Waite of Portsmouth, R.I. and Some of his Descendants," by G. Andrews Moriarty[1].

"Maribe" Wait was born 20 July 1720 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, the fifth child (of eight) of Thomas and Mary (Tripp) Waite of Dartmouth[2-3].  The first seven children were born in Dartmouth, and the last child was born in East Greenwich, Rhosde Island, where the Thomas Wait family moved to in about 1729.  "Meribee" is recorded in the East Greenwich town records also[4].  

Meribah married Benjamin Soule in about 1742 in Dartmouth[1,6].  There is no marriage record in the town vital records.  They had two daughters, Martha and Patience in 1743 and 1745, respectively.  Their births are recorded in the Dartmouth town records.

The Benjamin Soule family resided in the part of Dartmouth that was set off as the town of Westport in 1787.  

Meribah (Wait) Soule died on 3 February 1803 in Westport, Massachusetts, just three days after her husband died[5].  There are no burial records for her.

There are no probate records for Meribah (Wait) Soule.  Her husband's will was proved after both of them died and the estate was distributed to their descendants.

                                                                                                                                     

5)  SOURCES

1. G. Andrews Moriarty, "Thomas Waite of Portsmouth, R.I. and Some of his Descendants," New England Historical and Genealogical Record, Volume 73, Number 4 (October 1919), pages 291ff., page 296, Thomas Waite sketch.

2. Vital records of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 ( Boston, Mass. : New England Historic Genealogical Society,1929-1930), Births, page 292, Maribe Wait entry.

3. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), "Dartmouth Births, Marriages and Deaths," page 91 (image 439 of 2331), Maribe Wait birth entry.

4. "Rhode Island, Vital Records Extracts, 1636-1899," indexed database and digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), Volume 1, "Kent County Births, Marriagwes and Deaths," Births, page 167, Meribee Waite entry.

5. Vital records of Westport, Massachusetts, to the year 1850 (Boston, Mass. : New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1918), Deaths, page 289, Meribah Sowle entry.

6. Anne Borden Harding (editor), Mayflower families Through Five Generations : Volume 3: George Soule (Plymouth, MA : General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1980), page 71, Benjamin Soule sketch.

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NOTE:  Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post 

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I have extended this theme in 2018 to 260 Ancestors in 260 Weeks.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2018/07/52-ancestors-week-234-359-meribah-wait.html

Copyright (c) 2018, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.